Switch.



L. B. STEVENS. SWITCH.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 1,1906.-

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

'INVENTOR ATTORNEYS electrical circuit, or whereb LAWRENCE B. STEVENS, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, H208;

Application filed June 1, 1906. Serial No. 319,682..

To all whom it me concern.

Be it known hat I, LAWRENCE B. STE- was, a citizen of the United States, residin at Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switches, of which the followm is a description.

My invention re ates to switches, designed for use in connection with any one of a series of batteries or other sources of electrical energy, whereby said series of batteries, etc., may be successively cut into and out of the said batteries may be connected up in para lel.

My invention is capable of a wide range of use where the arrangement of batteries or sources of electrical ener y are, as above stated, but is more particiilarly designed for use in connection withthe ignition IllGOlliLIl-' ism of hydro-carbon propelled motors or vehicles.

By the arrangement of the structure .hereinafter to be described, it becomes practically impossible to, operate the switch without the use of a key of peculiar shape, the structure being so arranged that the insertion of the key into the mechanism throws into operative position a cut-out, thereby making it possible to operate the switch for cutting-in the various batteries, while the withdrawal of the key from the mechanism, throws the cutout into inoperative position, and locks the structure in such a way as to prevent uinruthorizml operation.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this s icciiimtion', Figure 1 illustrates a rear view oi the switch mechanism showing the cut-out in locked. engagement with the switch. Fig, 2 illustrates a like view ol" the nicclnniism with the cut-out in. operative position, with the switch thrown to the first .contnct, and. Fig. 3 illustrates a central cross section on line :r oil ig. 2.

Similar letters of rcl'oroncc rol'cr to like parts throughout the spocilh alien.

The case A is o'l" cup-shape as shown in Fig. 3, having a'ccntral apcrt uro u forming a bearing for the shaft I), upon the outer cnd of which is rigidly secured the operating button B. ltigidly secured. to the inner end oi" the shaft 1), is thcdrnm c. Mounted also upon the shaft 1) torotate therewith, is-thc contact spring (1. The conductor a is located between the contact spring (Z and the bottom of the case A, so as to be in metallic contact with the contact spring (1. This conductor 0 leads laterally from the pinf with which it is in metallic conta 'Pi voted upon the pin f is the cut-out g, of peculiar shape and contour, having-5on0 arm 9 provided with a pawl-point for gagement with the notch or stop 0' in the drum 0. The opposite end of the cut-out g is bifurcated as at g for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The conductor h is secured in the bottom of the case A by means of the screw pins h, as shown.

The forward end of the conductor h is bifur-' 3, for the purpose of receiving the arm g o the cut-out when in the position illustrated in Fig; 2. he other end of the conductor h is provided with means for connection with a circuit wire, such means consisting of the nuts'h; a binding post or headed screw would serve the purpose-equally well. Secured within the case A is also the conductor i, having the contact rejections i and i" as shown. The end of tlie conductor 1' is also provided withthe means i for connection with the circuit wire. The contact projections 11' and i'- lie within the path. of the contact springv d There is also secured within the case, the conductor-Jr, having the contact pro'eetions 1c and k each lying in the path of the contact spring (I. The terminal k similar in every res ect to the terminals h and i.

he key hole 1 opens laterally into the case A, adjacent to'thc bifurcated end 9 of the cut-out g, such key hole being continued into cated as shown in Fi -the bottom of the case, as a guide channel 1 for the key. The key m is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3,'as being constructed of a strip of metal havinga longitudinal slot m, and a terminal open slot 'm said slots being separated by the cross-portion n. In pram-tics, it is customary like poles of the batteries ,0, 0', sources of'elcctrical energ direct'l or other to the to connect the a terminal h, the other polesof the atteries' being connected respectively to the terminals '1' and If, leading through the necessary electrical iustruhn-nt as for example, the induction-coils p, 7 respectively as-illustrated'in Fig. 2.

With the instrument having its parts in the posii imiillustratcd ill Fig. 1, that is, with the key withdrawn, it will be noted that'the' pawl-point g falls in the notch c of the drum 0, which position isassumed only when the contact spring (I is in the position shown, against the stop q. Upon the insertion ofthe key m into the keyhole Z and pushing thesarne' home, it will be noted that the cross-piece n will strike the inneranost fork g of the bifurcated part of the cut-out g and throw it into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, said fork restingagainst said cross-piece a, thereby locking the arm 9 into contact with the forked end of the conductor tern'iinal 7a. In this position, the drum 1: is released and the contact spring (1 may be turned through the medium of the button B, into contact with any one of the contact proj -:ctions i, Ir or It will be noted that whcn-": thc contact spring d is in electrical connectieirwith the contact projection 'i, the circuit through bat tery 0 is closed, while when the contact spring (Z is swung into contact with the contact projection k, the battery 0 is cut-out and the battery 0 is cut-in. Further rotation of the contact spring .d' into contact with the projections i and It will cut-in both batteries 0 and 0 in parallel. It will be further noted that with the contact spring (I in any other position than that shown in Fig. 1, it will be impossible to fully withdraw the key from. the key hole 1, since the pawl-point y will be brought against the convex surface of the drum (5, thereby preventing further rotation of the same, and leaving the other fork of the cut-out g behind the cross-piece n of the key. Upon the rotationof the drum 0 into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the notch 0 will come into the position for the pawl-point g to fall therein, and thereby permit the complete withdrawal of the key.

From the above description, it will be noted that with the key Withdrawn, it will be impossible to manipulate the switch for the reason that it is locked into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and that it will be impossible to completely withdraw the key until the switch is thrown to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. A switch of the character described. is particularly adapted for use upon gasolenc propolled motor vehicles, wherein the explosion of the gas in the motors of the vehicles is made by the use of what is known as'a sparking coil. I

By the use of my invention, it is not only possible to cut-in either of'the batteries, individually and successively, but also possible to cut them both in in parallel. Other series of batteries can be used in connection with a switch of this type, by providing separate contact points for each battery, substantially as illustrated in the drawings, the limit to the number being determined only .by the size of the switch.

I claim:

1. An electric switch, comprising a rota table contact spring provided with a locking member, an electrical connection leading from said spring to a source of electrical supply, a cut-out in said connection, said outout being provided with. a locking member, means for opcrating'said cut-out to break said connection and lock said spring against rotation.

2. An electric switch, comprising a rota table contact spring, an electrical connection leading from said. spring and provided with means for connection with an electric circuit, a locking n'iember secured to said contact spring, a locking cut-out in said electrical connection and a key for operating said cut-out to break said connection and lock said contact spring against rotation.

b. In an electric switch, the combination with a plurality of conductors leading from a plurality of sources of electrical supply, a

contact spring,- designed for electrical connection with each of said conductors in succession, a (:onnnon return conductor leading to said sources of electric supply, said return conductor being provided with a cut-out, having a locking member, and means for operating said cut-out to i1 1terrup t the circuit through said return conductor and lock said contact spring out oi contact wlth said plurality ofconductors.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination with a plurality of electrical supply conductors and a; common return conductor, of. a rotating contact spring for connecting each of said supply conductors with said return conductor, a locking member rigidly secured to said contact spr ng, and a pivoted cut-out 1n sald return conductor, said cut-out having a locking member, and means for actuating said. cut-out to interrupt the circuit through said return conductor and lock said contact spring against rotation. y s

This specification signed and witnessed this 24th day of May 1906.

LAWR NCE B. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

O. A. ALrJsToN, Louis M. SANDERS. 

